Cut-off mechanism



I S. M. LANGSTON.

CUT-OFF MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED mws. I920;

1,359,076, Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEETI.

S. M. LANGSTON.

CUT-OFF MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1920.

1 ,359,076. I Patented Nov. 16, 1920. I 2 SHEETSSHEET 2- T3 qZ UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL M. LANGSTON, OF WENONAH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO SAMUEL M.LANGSTON COMPANY, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CUT-OFF MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

Application filed May 6, 1920. Serial No. 379,254.

T 0 all w 7mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL M. LANGSTON,

'acitizen of the United States, and resident of Wenonah, in the countyof Gloucester and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Cut- Off Mechanisms, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention is an improvement in cut-- off mechanism for transverselysevering comparatively stiff material into sections elements. Theinvention may be utilized as an independent unit or separate machine, orit may be incorporated in and form a part of a machine for delivering,assembling, printing scoring, or otherwise forming, treating or actingupon the material to be cut up into sections.

The operating parts of my improved cutoff mechanism are preferably sodesigned and-operated that they are normally at rest with the matei ialpassing freely between the cutter elements. Appropriate driving andcontrolling mechanism is provided whereby when it is desired to cut offthe portion of the material which has passed between the cutters, thecut-off mechanism is started in operation and goes through one completecycle and again comesto rest. The cycle includes the advancing of thecutter elements in the general direction of movement of the material andbrin ing them together to cut off the material w ile traveling at a rateapproximately equal to or slightly faster than the rate of travel of thematerial. The cutters again separate before reaching the end of theirforward movement and remain separated during the entire backwardmovement to rest position.

The cut-01f mechanism may'be started in operation at the desired instantby manual control, or automatically by trip mechanism in the oath ofmovement of the material, or

upon a' movement of the material feeding mechanism corresponding to thedelivery of a section of the material of a predetermined length.

I am aware that machines have heretofore been designed which areoperated and controlled substantially as above outlined, as for instancein the Ferris Patent 746,807, issued Dec. 15th, 1903.

In many types of machines, such for instance as machines for making adoublefaced corrugated paper, the speed at which the machine may beoperated is limited or controlled by the speed at which the cutoffmechanism may satisfactorily and successfully perform its cycle ofoperations including the starting from rest position advancing with thematerial, cutting it off, se anding, and returning to rest position.eavy parts, particularly when mounted for straight line reciprocation,possess such inertia both when at rest and when in motion that highspeed operation is commercially impracticable. This can be remediedsolely by reducing the weight and size of the parts without destroyingthe necessary and desired strength and rigidity.

One of the main objects of my invention is to so design and constructthe cut-0E mechanism that the inertia will be reduced to the minimumcompatible with necessary strength and rigidity and speed of movement.In carrying out my invention to accomplish this result and as importantdistinguishing features of my invention, I reduce the number of movingparts to the minimum, eliminate or avoid all back and forth rectilinearmovement of the parts, reduce friction by eliminating or avoiding allsliding engagement of parts, such as stationary or movable guides andcam surfaces, and mount each and all of the moving parts of the cut-offmechanism upon a pivotal center about which they may rotate oroscillate.

' I have succeeded in so simplifying the mechanism that in effect itincludes only three operating or.moving parts. These include a pivotallymounted cuttercarrier mounted to swing back and forth, with the cutterin a portion of the are following the material to be cut, a secondcutter-carrier pivotally mounted upon the first-mentioned cutter-carrierand having a cutter movable in respect to the first mentioned cutter ina direction approximately transverse of the direction of movement of thematerial, and a rotary crank mounted on the frame and directly drivingonly the second-mentioned cutter-carrier but effecting the swingingmovements of both carriers through a complete cycle during a singlerevolution of the crank about its fixed axis. The second cutter-carriermay be made materially lighter and, therefore, of less inertia than thefirstmentioned cutter-carrier which is pivotally mounted upon the frame,and the crank shaft with its crank may be so designed that its restposition is at the dead center of movement of the first-mentioned orheavier cutter-carrier.

starting from or approaching toward its Thus as the crank shaft is restposition, the movement of the heavier pivoted cutter-carrier isapproaching nil and the only parts whose energy must be overcome instopping or starting is the crank shaft and the comparativelylight-secondmentioned cutter-carrier which has a part acting in effectas a crank arm connecting the crank shaft to the first-mentioned pivotedcutter-carrier.

My improved construction permits the parts to be so proportioned that atthe instant, the path of one cutter crosses the path of the other, thetwo cutters will be moved in the same general direction as the-materialand at an equal or slightly greater speed. The maximum speed of bothcutters is greatest just after the cut, so that they get out of the wayof the material and separate again while still traveling in the samedirection as the material. Thus the material is freeto pass between thecutters during the final portion of the movement of the cutters in onedirection and during their entire return movement to rest position. Itwill, of course, be evident that if it is desired to cut material intocomparatively small sections, the cutters may be continuously movedabout their pivotal centers without stopping at any rest position.

By making the second-mentioned cuttercarrier, alever of thefirst class,in other words, pivoting its intermediate part on the first mentionedcutter-carrier with the crank on one end and the cutter on the other,the throw of the crank may be very much shorter and with less inertia ofthe parts than if the second-mentioned cutter-carrier be made a lever ofthe second class with the fulcrum at one end, the crank at the other andthe cutter between. Obviously the same character of movement may beimparted to the cutters by making the second-mentioned cutter-carrier asa lever of either class or even by making it as a lover of the thirdclass. In fact if it is desired to swing the first-mentionedcuttercarrier and its cutter through a comparatively long are in respectto the range of separation of the cutters, the making of thesecond-mentioned cutter-carriertas a lever of the second class would bedesirable and within the scope of my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated one embodiment of myinvention, although it will of course be understood that I do not wishto be limited to the specific construction illustrated except in so faras it is defined in the appended claims.

In these drawings:

Figure-1 is an end view of the cut-off mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a front view;

Fig. 3 is a plan view; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view indicating the successive positions whichthe moving parts take.

The machine" illustrated, includes a suitable base 10, to which ispivoted a knife or cutter-carrier which, as illustrated, includes a pairof upstanding parallel arms- 11 connectedby a transverse beam or bar 9012 to which the knife or cutter 13 is secured. The arms 11 are of suchlength that they may swing through a comparatively small angle but givethe desired length of movement to the cutter 13 in the general directionof the path of the material. The normal or rest position of the arms isslightly to one side of the Vertical, and the movement of the armscarries them to approximately the same distance at the other side 100 ofvertical, whereby the path of movement of the cutter 13 is acomparatively fiat are,

rising just before the cut and lowering after the cut. The arms areillustrated as being mounted at their lower ends upon a rock shaft 14journaled in bearings 15 on the base 10 but it will of course be evidentthat any other suitable form of pivotal support might be provided.

Pivotally secured to the cutter-carrier above described is a secondcutter-carrier.

As illustrated, the arms 11 have portions 16 extending rearwardly atapproximately the elevation of the cutter 13 and to these rearwardlyextending portions are pivotally mounted a pair of arms 17 connectedtogether by a transverse beam or bar 18 0f the same general character asthe bar or beam 12 and carrying a somewhat similar cutter 19. Thepivotal connection between the arms 11 and 17 may be of any suitablecharacter,

as for instance pivot bolts 20. The distance from these pivot bolts tothe cutters 13 and 19 is approximately the same. and the cutters are ofsuch character that as the arms swing in respect to each other, thecutters move past each other to shear the intervening material. Thecutters 13 and 19 may be rigidly bolted to, but removable from, theirrespective carrying bars 12 and 18, whereby they may be properlyadjusted in respect to naled. As shown, each arm 17 is of some- 'whatbell crank form, that is, it inoludesa substantially horizontal portioncarrying the cutters 19 and a portion 27 at an an le thereto, andinclined downwardly. he shaft 22 is mounted on uprights or brackets 33and is parallel to the rock shaft 14 and pivot bolts 20. s In order toclearly indicate the successive positions of the arts, I have shown theparts diagrammatlcally in Fig. 4 and indicated a plurality of positionswhich the parts assume. The parts at the beginning of a cycleof'operations, are in what is preferably a rest position, and are asillustrated in Fig. 4 as position (1). It will be noted that the crankarm 23 is approximately at one dead center position and the arm 11 isdrawn back to its limiting position toward the source of material to beout. As the shaft22 rotates clockwise and the crank arm swings, theparts move to and through the successive positions indicated as (2) to(24) inclusive. At the point (7) the out of the material begins as theupper cutter 19 swin s downwardly past the cutter 13; It will fie notedthat the crank arm 23 and the connect-.

ing cutter-carrier arm 17 are approaching normal to each other at thebeginning of the cut. Thus at this period the arm 11 is moving atslightly below its highest rate of speed in the direction of thematerial and the cutter 13 is moving at the same speed in thisdirection, but is also moving down at a corresponding high speed tosever the material.

When the crank arm 23 and carrier arm 17-.

are slightly past normal, as indicated in position (9), the cuttingoperation has been completed and the parts are moving faster than thematerial to get out of the way and separate. This separation takes placeat the point ('10) before the arm 11 reaches the end of its stroke andthus the material may be passing through'betwe'en the cutters durin theslower movement ofthe arms 11 whic takes place when the crank arms 23are. ap-

proaching their second dead center position shown in position (14). Whenthe arm 11 has thus swung through its outward stroke and the shaft 22has rotated through a half revolution, the cutters have been broughttogether, severed the material, and-have been separated. During thereturn movement of the arms 11, they pass through the position indicatedas 15 to 24 inclusive and the cutters are held separated during theentire return movement.

In practice, the cut-off mechanism is operated intermittently and isnormally at rest with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 4. Thematerial may freely pass between the two cutters until the desiredlength of sheet has been fed through and the mechanism then operates tostart the cut-off mechanism and operate it through one cycle and back tothe rest position. The control of the machine forms no portion of mypresent invention but it preferably operates some form of clutch which,when engaged, will give one revolution to shaft 22 and then release. The

clutch may be controlled by the delivery mechanism or'by a stop in thepath of the advance end of the material being delivered. Ihave-illustrated a fly wheel 36 on the shaft 22 and to which may beconnected the main drive belt. In practice, the fly wheel 36 is loose onthe shaft 22 and is adapted to be connected thereto by some form ofclutch which, as previously stated, will give one revolution and thenrelease. Thus the fly wheel 36 may rotate continuously and the shaft 22and the cut-ofi mechanism operate intermittently at time intervalsdepending upon therate of delivery of the material and the len h ofsections into which it is to be cut. f course the fly wheel 36 may beomitted and the intermittent clutch or other connection be placedfarther back in the second cutter carrier including a pair of armspivotally mounted intermediate of their ends on the corresponding armsof the first mentioned carrier and a transverse member connected to oneend of each of said second mentioned arms and disposed substantiallyparallel to saidfirst mentioned member, a pair of cooperating cutterscarried by said transverse members and a crank shafthaying a pair ofcranks connected to the opposite ends of said second mentioned arms forsimultaneously oscillating both sets of cutter carriers about theirrespective pivotal centers.

2. A cut-off mechanism includin acutter carrier pivotally supported toosc' ate about a fixed center spaced from the path of movement of thematerial to be cutand having a cutter movable back and forth alon an arcapproximately tangent tosaid pat a second cutter carrier pivotallyconnected to said first mentioned cutter carrier at a point spaced fromsaid cutter in the general direction of the path of the. material andhaving a cutter for cooperation with the first mentioned cutter andmovable up and down in respect to the first cutter along an areapproximately at right angles to said path, and a crank shaft rotatableabout a fixed axis and having a crank directly connected to said secondmentioned carrier.

3. A cut-01f mechanism including a cutter carrier mounted to oscillateabout a fixed center, a cutter carried thereby, a second cutter carriercarried by'said first mentioned carrier and mounted to oscillate inrespect thereto and having a projecting end portion, a cutter carried bysaid second mentioned carrier and'mea'ns for imparting bodily movementto said projecting end in a complete circular path for oscillating bothof said carriers about their respective pivotal centers.

4. A cut-off mechanism including a cutter mounted for oscillation abouta stationary center, a second cutter mounted to oscillate about amovable center fixed in respect to said first mentioned cutter, and acrank shaft adapted to make successive complete rotations about astationary axis and havingits crank pin axis fixed in respect to saidsecond mentioned cutter, whereby each complete rotation of said. crankshaft effects a movement of said cutters back and forth approximatelyalong the path'of the material to be cut and a movement of said secondmentioned cutter back and forth across said path.

5. A cut-off mechanism-including a frame having two stationary axes, amember r0- tatable about one axis, a second member mounted to oscillateabout the other axis, a third member directly connecting said first andsaid second mentioned members and a pair of cooperating cutters carriedby said second and third mentioned members.

6. A cut-off mechanism including a pivotally mounted cutter carrier, asecond cutter carrier pivotally mounted upon the first mentioned carrierand a crank shaft having its crank connected to said second cuttercarrier.

7 A cut-off mechanism including a frame, a cutter carrier pivotallymounted thereon, a second cutter carrier pivotally mounted on said firstmentioned carrier at a point spaced from the pivotal center of thelatter, and a rotatable member mounted on said frame and connected to apart of said second carrier for imparting bodily movement along acircular path to said second carrier and oscillation of both of saidcarriers about their respective pivotal centers.

8. A cut-off mechanism including a cutter carrier mounted to oscillateabout a fixed center, a second cutter carrier mounted to oscillate abouta center bodily carried by said first mentioned carrier, a crank shafthaving a crank directly connected to said second mentioned carrier at apoint spaced from the pivotal center of the latter, and a pair ofcutters carried by said carriers, the pivotal centers of said carriersand the axes of said crank shaft and the crank pin thereof beingparailel and said cutters being spaced apart when the axis of the shaft,the axis of the crank pin and the pivotal center of the second mentionedcarrier lie in the same plane whereby material may freely pass betweensaid cutters when said crank'is on either dead center and during themovement-of said crank from'one dead center to the other, but is cut offby the cooperation of said cutters during the other half revolu-

